Our Bureau
SHILLONG/GUWAHATI: The first Games Technical Conduct Committee (GTCC) for the 39th National Games has asked Meghalaya Government to maintain timelines with regard to executing its plans and ideas for hosting the National Games in 2022.
Chairman of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) coordination commission for Meghalaya RK Sacheti, who is on a two-day tour to the state, on Wednesday, held a meeting with the Sports department to review the preparations for the upcoming games.
Talking to media persons, Sacheti informed that the government has presented its plans before the committee. The broader plan looks good and it has been asked to give more details about the plans in due course.
The committee will also visit the venues, on Thursday, where the stadiums and other infrastructure for the games are supposed to come up.
He said that the main focus now is to execute the plans within the timelines, adding that as of now, the timelines look good and Meghalaya can host the games provided everyone works on the given time limits.
He also informed that the state government, during the meeting, told the committee that they have got the land for the infrastructure and works have been allotted, besides the consultant and the event management companies are working on the entire concept.
Sacheti said that the GTCC will submit its report to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The National Games in Goa would be held in November this year, he added.
It may be mentioned that the Meghalaya Government so far has mobilised close to Rs 450 crore from different ministries including Social Justice, Tribal Affairs ministry, NEC and other departments, for creating infrastructure for the upcoming National Games, 2022.
The state government is running against time to host the games as now, just little over two years is left for it to ready the infrastructure, while at the moment, not even a single infrastructure has come in the state in view of the games.
Sacheti indicated that based on preliminary presentation, the National Games in Meghalaya could be conducted in 2022, but would require swift implementation of the master plan.
A meeting was held between the IOA Coordination Commission and officials of the sports department, Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA), in Shillong on Wednesday, during which a presentation of the outline of the preliminary master plan was made.
The chairman IOA coordination commission also recommended a meeting of the government, MSOA and NSF/IOA in Delhi to finalise the technical aspects of the venues/field of play, etc at the earliest.
The meeting was chaired by D Vijay Kumar D, commissioner, sports etc in presence of WAM Booth, director, sports and youth affairs, Meghalaya, J Lakiang, chief engineer, State Sports Council, John F Kharshiing, working president, MSOA, Chiranjib Choudhury, general secretary, MSOA, Ian Lyngdoh, vice president, MSOA and member GTCC, and other officials.
The chairman also had an informal interaction with the members of the executive council, MSOA where the discussions revolved around availability of infrastructure, team preparation process of Meghalaya and practice venues.
The chairman IOA coordination commission will inspect the proposed venue for the main stadium on Thursday morning (8.30am).
Discussions would continue on Thursday after inspection of the Games village at Umsawli and JN stadium in the morning hours and would be followed up with a meeting to be chaired by the state sports minister.